The weather was cold, and after extorting confessions for a long time, the cats were all hungry, so everyone decided to eat first. After eating, they would deal with the matter of the mermaids.
Because they didn't expect the Imperial Uncles and Prince Zhao to come for dinner, Su Yu didn't cook enough food, so he simply brought out the hotpot.
On a snowy day, there was nothing more comfortable than eating hotpot around the stove as a family.
Fei Shi made a double-flavored hotpot according to Su Yu's request. Half of the hotpot was poured into seafood stock, and the other half was poured into chili oil, boiling over the charcoal fire. The aroma immediately spread in the house.
Fresh prawns, fish fillets, and Su Yu's homemade fish balls, prawn balls, and crab sticks were rolled in the broth and taken out. It was delicious even without seasoning. Su Yu made several dipping sauces at the last minute, such as sesame sauce, seafood sauce, sesame oil sauce, and garlic sauce. It was delicious when eaten alone or mixed together.
His Royal Highness King Zhao asked for a bowl of each dipping sauces and tasted them one by one. He felt that all of them were delicious, so he took a bite and changed to another one.
"Oh, remember to bring the dipping sauces when you worship the heavens next time." Prince Ling threw a fish ball into his mouth. It was so hot that he couldn't stop breathing. The last time he ate the fish ball hotpot during the worship ceremony, because Anguo Tower didn't have any dipping sauces, he just rinsed it and ate it directly. He felt that it was delicious. Now that he had dipping sauces, the taste was even better.
"It's not good to bring this to worship the heavens." Su Yu's mouth twitched. Last time, it was already difficult for Prince Li to bring a bag of tea leaves. How could he bring a pile of hotpot sauces to the altar?
"Why not?" Prince Su fed the Imperial Eldest Prince a small mouthful of fish meat. "The ancestors will be happy to see the dipping sauces."
"Meow!" After swallowing the fish meat, the kitten chimed in.
"You know what we're talking about, so you're blindly following us." Prince Ling tapped the kitten's head.
"Meow?" The Imperial Eldest Prince tilted his head and opened his mouth to bite off a piece of fish ball on Prince Ling's chopsticks.
After a lively lunch, the cats huddled on the cushions in the North Palace and didn't move. Su Yu looked outside, which was getting heavier and heavier, "What about the mermaid?"
Although the deep sea was cold, it wouldn't snow. The pond in the Bixiao Palace was filled with fresh water, and it would freeze in this weather. It was possible that the delicate girl would become a frozen fish. If she froze to death, this clue would be lost.
............. The big black and yellow and black and yellow and black and yellow and black and yellow and black and yellow and black and yellow and black and yellow and yellow and yellow and yellow and black and yellow and yellow and yellow and black and yellow and black and yellow and black and yellow and yellow and black and yellow and ywith with black and and to with yellow and with with with black and yellow and yellow and yellow and yellow yellow with to time.
His Majesty the Emperor looked at the bunch of lazy cats on the cushions in disdain. "Send the mermaid to Anguo Tower." The mermaid was too scheming. Just extorting a confession would not be enough. It was best to hand her over to the National Tutor.
Su Yu was about to nod and sigh with emotion that His Majesty the Emperor was still the most reliable, but in the blink of an eye, His Majesty picked him up and threw him onto the bed. Then, His Majesty pounced on him. "Your Majesty? Aren't we going to Anguo Tower? "
His Majesty the Emperor hugged Nuannuan's stupid slave and rubbed against him. He yawned on his chest. "We'll go after you wake up."
Su Yu, "…"
After the cats had their fill of sleep, he slowly brought the mermaid to Anguo Tower and learned that the National Tutor was still "studying the stars" on the sixth floor.
"I told you that 21 is definitely not awake yet. What's the hurry?" Prince Ling yawned and lay down on the cushions.
Prince Su frowned and took out the little fat cat and his vest kitten from his arms. "Hong Ting, bring Da Mao upstairs and call Uncle His Majesty down."
"Why am I the one going?" His Royal Highness King Zhao widened his eyes. He would definitely be beaten if he called Uncle His Majesty out of bed.
"Just go when I tell you to." His Majesty the Emperor flicked his younger brother's head.
Due to the threats from his elder brother and his uncles, the little fat cat had no choice but to carry the vest kitten upstairs unwillingly.
The sixth floor of Anguo Tower was covered with a thick snow-colored velvet carpet. However, for His Royal Highness King Zhao's short legs, it was quite strenuous for him to walk.
"Meow!" Being carried by his uncle, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wobbled as he climbed onto the spacious bed. Every time he took a step, his tiny claws would sink into a small pit.
The little fat cat squatted by the bed and used its hind paw to kick its ears. It hesitantly looked at the sleeping beauty in the middle of the bed. Seeing the black and yellow furball fearlessly climbing up the thin blanket, it raised its paw and didn't go forward to stop it. Instead, it silently covered its eyes. Hopefully, Uncle His Majesty wouldn't send this little guy flying with his paw because of his small size.
The Royal Highness the Crown Prince climbed onto the National Tutor's chest and stumbled forward. The calmness of the National Tutor's body was what the cub liked very much. He instinctively leaned over and sniffed the jade-like handsome face. He stuck out his tongue and licked the tip of the handsome nose.
Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and her cold beautiful eyes slowly opened. What he saw was a pair of amber eyes looking at him in confusion.
Everyone drank a round of tea on the second floor. Finally, the National Tutor came down with the two kittens in his arms. The kitten in the vest looked excited and kept rubbing its head on the snow-colored lapel. The little fat cat was listlessly carried by the National Tutor. It was obvious that it had been taught a lesson.
"Oh, what trouble did Hong Ge get into this time?" His Royal Highness King Ling suddenly sat up and pretended to take the little fat cat.
The National Tutor looked at him coldly.
Prince Ling laughed dryly and stood up with the little fat cat in his arms. He gave the soft couch to the National Tutor.
The National Tutor didn't stand on ceremony. He waved his wide sleeves and leaned on the soft couch. The little cat hanging on his lapel climbed onto his shoulder and nestled on his shoulder. "What's the matter?"
"Prince Jing sent a mermaid." His Majesty pointed at the mermaid curled up by the pillar.
When the mermaid left the water, her fishtail turned into a pair of legs. The mermaid's dress didn't get wet. At this moment, she looked like an ordinary beautiful woman.
When the mermaid heard them say that it was the National Tutor, she couldn't help but look up. She couldn't help but be stunned. His features were picturesque, his temperament was noble, and his hair was like snow. He looked like an immortal who had mistakenly entered the mortal world. More importantly, this person was surrounded by the peaceful aura of an auspicious beast. It made people relax and have the urge to worship him.
With this thought in mind, the mermaid did as she was told. She slowly walked forward and bowed down. Her excitement was written all over her face. "The Woman of the Sea greets the State Preceptor." She did not expect to see an ancient auspicious beast here! It was rumored that auspicious beasts were kind-hearted and helped the weak. As long as she was recognized by him, she might be able to get his help and get away from the claws of these ferocious beasts.
Her cold gaze swept across the mermaid's body. The state preceptor slowly raised her hand and took down the little furball from her neck. She placed it on the soft couch and stroked its fur. Then, she slowly opened her mouth. Her voice was extremely pleasing to the ears. "How do you bring the live fish to the tower? It's not easy to keep them in the damp weather. Dry them in the sun and send them here. "
The mermaid suddenly raised her head and looked at the extraordinarily handsome auspicious beast in disbelief.
Su Yu looked at the mermaid who had an ugly expression. He coughed lightly and said, "Uncle, this mermaid knows the whereabouts of the late Emperor …"
"Is that so?" The National Tutor finally looked at the trembling mermaid. He leaned over and supported his chin with one hand. "Raise your head."
The mermaid raised her head and looked at the cold and beautiful eyes of the National Tutor. That pair of eyes was simply too beautiful. They were as clear as a clear stream on a snowy mountain. Just one look was enough to make people unconsciously sink into them. Their inferiority complex and the filth in their hearts made them look up at this pure nobility.
"What's your name?" The National Tutor's voice became distant and close again. It was ethereal and hard to catch.
"Haizhu." The mermaid looked up at the National Tutor as if she was obsessed, but her eyes were a little dazed.
"How did you come here?" The National Tutor pressed down the furball that was trying to jump off the couch. He turned the mermaid over and stretched out his slender fingers to scratch the little chin.
"My family is responsible for trading mermaid silk and pearls with the people on land. We come ashore every year. This time, we encountered a group of sea monsters near the coast and got separated from my family. We were caught by a big fish net and came ashore …" The mermaid very gently revealed her background.
Su Yu looked at this scene in surprise. She nudged the emperor beside her and whispered, "The National Tutor is really charming. Look at how charming she is. She's spilling everything."
The emperor glanced at her. "So stupid."
"Ah?" Su Yu felt the cat's disdainful gaze. "What's wrong?"
"This is Mental Manipulation." Prince Ling kindly explained.
Su Yu's eyes widened. In the past, when she saw how the National Tutor seemed to know everything, she thought he was more intelligent than others. She did not expect that he was really blessed with divine power! She wanted to ask Uncle Seventeenth a few more questions, but she was pulled away by the emperor.
"Hmph!" This stupid slave. How dare he not ask me first when he has questions. The emperor was a little unhappy and bit Su Yu's neck as a punishment.
"Hey!" Su Yu immediately blushed. He looked around and saw that the imperial uncles were listening attentively to the mermaid's story. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.
The emperor did not let it go. He hugged Su Yu from behind and whispered in his ear about the National Tutor's divine power.
The National Tutor's eyes and voice contained divine power. They could soothe people's hearts and control their minds. Su Yu guessed that the National Tutor could read minds, and it was not wrong.
The mermaid was controlled by the National Tutor, so she explained her background clearly.
Mermaid silk was precious. Although people knew that it was woven by the mermaids in the deep sea, they did not know how it was sold ashore. Now, they understood. This mermaid called Haizhu and her family were responsible for communicating with the outside world. Every year, they would bring mermaid silk and pearls and disguise themselves as merchants to the East Sea to sell and exchange for some goods ashore.
This year, when they came ashore, they coincidentally met Prince Jing, who was fishing in the shallow sea. The sea monsters caused the mermaids to be separated. Haizhu's father was even bitten by a mackerel. The mermaids were afraid of attracting more bloodthirsty strange fish, so they left in a hurry. The unlucky Haizhu bumped into Prince Jing's fishing net.
Prince Jing looked at the mermaid for a long time. No matter how she tried to coax him, he was unmoved. In the end, he waved his hand and decided to offer her to the emperor. He could save this year's tribute.
"The island is near our clan. It's very dangerous there." The mermaid could not help but tremble when she mentioned the place where the previous emperor lived.
"Is there a way to get there?" The National Tutor took a sip of tea.
"You can swim there." The mermaid said honestly. Although it was very far from the shore and there were many reefs, dangerous shoals, and sea monsters on the way, it would be fine as long as they swam slowly in the shallow water.
"Nonsense." The National Tutor put the cup on the table and looked away.
The mermaid suddenly came back to her senses. She was stunned for a moment before she realized what she had just said. Her expression changed greatly. Just now, because the person in front of her was too good-looking, she had revealed the secret of her clan! The mermaid could not accept this fact. Her eyes rolled back and she fainted.
Su Yu looked at the merman on the ground with lingering fear. He suddenly remembered that before he had signed the blood contract, the state preceptor had looked at him like this as well. At that time, other than thinking that the state preceptor's eyes were really beautiful, he was only stunned for a moment.
"It's not easy for people with pure minds to be confused," Prince Su said seriously.
Su Yu blinked. Was he praising him for being pure?
"A pure mind is a simpleton," His Royal Highness King Ling said with a smile. "21st said the same thing about me."
Su Yu looked at Prince Ling's "we're the same kind of people" look and twitched the corner of his mouth. He did not want to be the same kind of person as his Uncle Seventeen, really.
The National Tutor sat up and threw the furball on the couch to the little fat cat who was eating fish filaments on the small table. "Leave the mermaid here. There's a pool in the seventh room on the fourth floor."
"That's right. It's easy to freeze in the Bixiao Palace." Prince Ling pinched some fish filaments and chewed. He noticed that the National Tutor was looking at him. Only then did he realize that his brother wanted him to carry the mermaid to the fourth floor. "21st, how can you order your brother around like this?"
The National Tutor looked at him without saying a word.
After a moment, His Royal Highness King Ling accepted his fate and carried the unconscious mermaid up the stairs.
"What are you going to do?" The National Tutor looked up at An Hong-chul.
"That place is very far away. I'm afraid that an ordinary boat won't be able to reach it." The Emperor frowned. "I want Prince Jing to come back and discuss it."
The National Tutor nodded slightly. Thinking of his brothers who were still alive, a cold light flashed in his eyes. "It's not suitable to go out to sea in winter. We'll go in spring."
In the distance, on an isolated island.
"Achoo!" The late Emperor, no, he should be called the Retired Emperor now, suddenly sneezed. "Why do I suddenly feel cold?"
"If you're cold, you can sleep below!" The big golden cat who was pressed down below shouted.
"Humph, someone must be thinking about me." The Retired Emperor snorted and slapped his disobedient brother's paw. "Old Nine, go add more firewood."
Back at the North Pole Palace, the Emperor immediately issued a decree to summon Prince Jing to the capital. He then unfolded a sea map and remained silent.
"Your Majesty, should we tell the Empress Dowager that the late Emperor is still alive?" It was late and Su Yu was about to send the eldest prince to the Ci 'an Palace.
"Don't tell her yet." An Hong-chul shook his head. The matter hadn't been settled yet. Moreover, the mermaid saw the golden cat a year ago. Nothing could have happened in between. Imperial Mother had finally accepted the news of Imperial Father's death. If he let her rejoice in vain, he might as well not give her any hope.
During the New Year, the Prince Jing was supposed to return to the capital for a reunion. Now that Prince Jing had received an imperial decree, he had to return to the capital early.
"Thanks to the snow, there are fewer sea monsters. This subject can enter the capital after a heavy snowfall …" Prince Jing's reply came very quickly. He said that as long as there was a heavy snowfall, he would be able to enter the capital.
"Why is that?" Su Yu didn't understand. What did sea monsters have to do with snow?
"Snow is an auspicious sign. The snow in Da 'an is supported by the National Tutor and Bai Ze's divine power. It can deter sea monsters and keep them quiet for a period of time." The Emperor looked up at the light gray sky. The heavy snowfall was approaching. That guy was coming.
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